AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core 9 270H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and the Intel Core 9 270H occupy different tiers in the mobile processor market, and the benchmark data reflects a substantial performance gulf between them. The Intel Core 9 270H wins all 11 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the average benchmark score of 38335 placing it at the 86th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, with an average benchmark score of 14320, sits at the 69th percentile. The data indicates that the Core 9 270H is the superior processor for demanding workloads, while the Ryzen 5 3501U serves a more power-conscious segment.

The Verdict

The data clearly separates these two processors by performance class. The Intel Core 9 270H, with 14 cores and 20 threads, delivers an average benchmark score of 38335, which is roughly 2.7 times the Ryzen 5 3501U's 14320. The Core 9 270H also claims a higher percentile ranking at 86 versus 69 for the AMD part. For users running multi-threaded applications, the Core 9 270H is the only choice from this comparison; its PassMark multithread score of 28764 dwarfs the 7071 score of the Ryzen 5 3501U.

The Ryzen 5 3501U, however, has its place in the database for efficiency-focused mobile designs. It carries a 15 W TDP compared to the 45 W TDP of the Intel part, and it uses a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. The AMD chip also has a lower launch position in the market, though it has no recorded launch MSRP. The verdict from the data is that the Core 9 270H is for users who need maximum compute throughput, while the Ryzen 5 3501U is for systems where the lower power envelope is the priority.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is significant. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is built on the Picasso architecture, which uses the Zen+ microarchitecture on a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning there is no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core 9 270H uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-H, with a Raptor Lake Refresh generation label. It is manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node.

The transistor counts and die sizes tell part of the story. The Ryzen 5 3501U has 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Core 9 270H has no recorded transistor count or die size in the database, but its cache configuration shows a different design philosophy. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and a much larger 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Intel part supports a wider range of memory, with DDR4 and DDR5 support, while the AMD part is limited to DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Ryzen 5 3501U has a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Core 9 270H has no bandwidth figure in the database. The integrated graphics also differ: the AMD chip uses Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel chip uses Iris Xe Graphics 96EU. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both are locked (multiplier unlocked is false for both). The PCIe support differs, with the AMD part using Gen 3 and the Intel part using Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 270H wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, so the use-case split is largely a matter of degree rather than category. The largest deltas come in the compute-heavy PassMark tests. In floating point math, the Intel part scores 70640 against 12707 for the AMD part, a delta of -82%. In integer math, the scores are 97654 versus 26321, a delta of -73%. The extended instructions test shows the biggest gap at -83.7%, with scores of 20079 and 3274.

The Ryzen 5 3501U does not have any benchmark wins, but its profile suggests a different target. Its single-thread score of 2136 is lower than the Intel part's 3944, a delta of -45.8%, which is the smallest performance gap in the entire comparison. This indicates that the AMD chip is relatively less disadvantaged in lightly threaded work, though it still loses. The 15 W TDP of the Ryzen 5 3501U, compared to the 45 W TDP of the Core 9 270H, points to use in thinner, battery-focused laptops where the Intel part's power draw would be prohibitive.

The data also shows the Intel part's strength in memory-heavy workloads. In random string sorting, the Core 9 270H scores 36867 versus 10414 for the AMD chip, a delta of -71.8%. Data compression shows a similar pattern: 333785 for Intel versus 87380 for AMD, a delta of -73.8%. These results align with the Intel part's larger 24 MB L3 cache and 20 threads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 9 270H has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core 9 270H has an average benchmark score of 38335, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average benchmark score of 14320. The Intel part's closest rival in the database is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H with a delta of 0.1%, while the AMD part's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 with a delta of -0.1%.

Q: How do they compare in single-thread performance?

A: In the PassMark single-thread test, the Intel Core 9 270H scores 3944, and the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2136. This gives the Intel part a 45.8% advantage, which is the smallest percentage lead for Intel across all recorded benchmarks.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core 9 270H supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a TDP of 15 W. The Intel Core 9 270H has a TDP of 45 W.

Q: What integrated graphics do they use?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses Radeon Vega 8 graphics. The Intel Core 9 270H uses Iris Xe Graphics 96EU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core 9 270H across all 11 recorded benchmarks. The largest margin is in extended instructions, where the Intel part scores 20079 and the AMD part scores 3274, a delta of -83.7%. The smallest margin is in single-thread performance, with the Intel part scoring 3944 and the AMD part scoring 2136, a delta of -45.8%.

In multithreaded workloads, the Core 9 270H delivers 28764 in the PassMark multithread test, while the Ryzen 5 3501U manages 7071, a delta of -75.4%. The physics test shows the same delta of -75.4%, with scores of 1966 and 483. The data compression test gives the Intel part a score of 333785 against 87380, a delta of -73.8%. Data encryption shows a similar gap: 19369 versus 5580, a delta of -71.2%.

The floating point math results reinforce the pattern. The Intel part scores 70640, and the AMD part scores 12707, a delta of -82%. Integer math shows a delta of -73%, with scores of 97654 and 26321. Prime number finding gives the Intel part 112 against 21 for the AMD part, a delta of -81.2%. Random string sorting completes the sweep: 36867 for Intel and 10414 for AMD, a delta of -71.8%.

The percentile data places the Intel part at 86 and the AMD part at 69, confirming that the Core 9 270H competes in a higher performance tier. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H at a delta of 0.1%, the Intel Xeon w3-2525 at -0.1%, and the Intel Core i5-13600HX at 0.2%. The Ryzen 5 3501U sits near the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 at -0.1%, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C at 0.3%, and the Intel Core 7 160UL at 0.6%.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets show several key differences beyond the obvious core count gap. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Intel Core 9 270H has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. The Intel part uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, while the AMD part uses AMD Socket FP5.

The cache hierarchies differ substantially. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The process nodes also differ: 12 nm for AMD versus 10 nm for Intel.

The memory support is another differentiator. The AMD part supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5, with no bandwidth figure recorded. The PCIe support is also different: Gen 3 for AMD versus Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only) for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $697; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. The release dates differ as well, with the Intel part released in December 2024 and the AMD part released in May 2026. Both processors are active in production, both are for the mobile market, and both have locked multipliers. The part numbers are YM3501C4T4MFG for AMD and SRQ6V for Intel.